Special youth deer season

[erikwells]

I looked at the 2013 hunting regs today and the youth deer October 17-20. However it includes specific zones and the zone we hunt in (277) is not included. I don't recall it being limited to zones in the past but I may have just missed that being this is the first season that my son would be able to hunt (turned 10 recently). Can anyone shed any light on this? I feel like I'm missing something. I was hoping to have him hunt with his 20 gauge slug gun this year. Thanks.

[CANOPY SAM]

erik....I could be mistaken, but I believe there are "Special" youth seasons in particular zones (and even on different dates), and then there is the statewide "Youth Season" which is open almost everywhere?

I believe the statewide youth season has been over that same October weekend in the past, but without a reg book in front of me I'm not certain if there have been new changes implemented as per different zones or not?

Either way, if you want to take your son hunting during the "Youth Deer Hunting Season" you don't have to stick to "your" zone. I'm pretty sure you can take them anywhere the youth season is open.

Every year I find the regulations booklet more and more confusing.

[mntatonka]

erik....I could be mistaken, but I believe there are "Special" youth seasons in particular zones (and even on different dates), and then there is the statewide "Youth Season" which is open almost everywhere?

I believe the statewide youth season has been over that same October weekend in the past, but without a reg book in front of me I'm not certain if there have been new changes implemented as per different zones or not?

Either way, if you want to take your son hunting during the "Youth Deer Hunting Season" you don't have to stick to "your" zone. I'm pretty sure you can take them anywhere the youth season is open.

Every year I find the regulations booklet more and more confusing.

Doesn't look like that this year. It looks like this year they've restricted the Oct. Youth Hunt to specific areas. There's still the special hunts in various parks, but the usual youth season is restricted to the following areas: 101, 105, 111, 114, 201, 203, 208, 209, 256, 257, 260, 263,

264, 267, 268, 338, 339, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 601, and 602.

I'm not sure why they would change it like this since it doesn't seem to have anything to do with lottery/managed/intensive restrictions.

[erikwells]

Thanks for the replies. Limiting it to zones really stinks being I do my deer hunting in zone 277. Seems like if the DNR was really interested in getting young hunters out there they would allow hunting in all of the zones. I guess he will have to wait, he is going to be realy disappointed.

[fishadb]

I think all the youth hunts are ridiculous, especially the youth waterfowl hunt. I do agree that hunters under 16 should get to shoot a deer of either sex but do not belive they need special seasons just for youth.

[mntatonka]

I think all the youth hunts are ridiculous, especially the youth waterfowl hunt. I do agree that hunters under 16 should get to shoot a deer of either sex but do not belive they need special seasons just for youth.

The youth deer season was a great success, given that it was during the weekend they had off from school anyway. The only negative I'd ever heard about it was with parents shooting the kids' deer.

[Jameson]

I don't ever recall it being statewide. It has always been only certain areas.

[erikwells]

No worries it was a date on the calendar where he was going to be the center of the universe. I suppose I can pick another date on my own during regular season.

[CANOPY SAM]

Well again Erik, I'm pretty sure you can have him hunt in pretty much any zone that is open. Even if you can't, find a nice big piece of state land, reconcile the zone, and get him signed up.

One of the great joys I've had with the youth deer hunt is just teaching my kids about deer and deer movement. Still hunting thru the forest and prairie, looking at deer sign, talking about deer movement, showing them how to read the sign, and anticipate where deer will be, or where they'll reveal themselves in different settings.

The real upside to this is that you can do it all without the fear of hundreds of other guns in the woods with you.

Take them out scouting, get permission from a land-owner (which I've found very easy as long as it's for the kids, and as long as they're only taking a doe) find a spot with some good deer activity, set up a comfy little ground blind, and settle in for some fun.

I've done this with all 4 of my kids, and teaching them in a no-stress, no-fear, no-pressure environment has been absolutely priceless. My eldest son is now an accomplished solo deer hunter, and his harvested every one of his deer with a single, clean kill shot to the heart. My youngest daughter passed up on mature does for 3 years as she wanted her first to be a buck. She made a perfect heart shot on a decent 2 1/2 yr. old last year. She'll NEVER let her older brother forget it!

Don't let the Zone deal prevent you from participating in this hunt, Erik. Just find a place and go. You'll love it, and your son will never forget it!

[flipper]

I haven't seen this year's regulations but I don't think there has ever been a youth deer season in our area of Southern MN.

[erikwells]

I bet you are right thats its never been state wide and in central and southern Minnesota. I just started deer hunting again last year and my son turned 10 on December 1, 2012. I made the assumption it was state wide. My apologies if I confused anyone here. One more reason a guy really needs to sit down and read the regulations. Thanks you all for the responses, Erik.

[Jameson]

Being confused with the deer hunting regulations is very understandable. It happens to all of us sooner or later.

[muskiemanAD]

They had it open last year when I was bow hunting the Whiterwater WMA. Pretty disgusting seeing the way they were doing youth hunts... Since the Refuge was open they would have a family group push hillsides to a clan of waiting kids, that would then open up. Sure didn't seem the right way to teach kids how to hunt. We saw numbers of 25-30 people participating in one group in the youth hunt....

[flipper]

My only experience with a youth deer hunt was taking my youngest son up to Bemidji State Park when he was 15 or so. We sat in a ground blind for the better part of two days. We saw lots of birds, including a pair of pileated woodpeckers that got real close, had a good weekend together, picked some shrooms, but saw no deer. I think there were only two deer shot out of all the kids there. I didn't observe any driving of deer or anything like that, just some parents hunting with their kids.

[erikwells]

I was hoping to trap a deer and tether it next to his stand. Theres always a somebody out there that ruins it for all of us. Thanks for the responses.